Compare towns
Westminster vs Windham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Westminster | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.